Apparatus for governing the passage of cars or vehicles along a railway and the control thereof.



Patented July '7, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H, A. WALLACE.

THE CONTROL THEREOF.

APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING THE PASSAGE 0F CARS 0R VEHICLES ALONG A RAILWAY AND APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1912.

wnnssszs THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHOU WASHINGTON. D4 6.

H. A. WALLACE. APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING THE PASSAGE 0F CARS 0R VEHICLES ALONG A RAILWAY AND THE GONTROL THEREOF. APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1912.

Patented July '7, 1914.

a SH'EETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR @WJ W WITNESSES N THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

H. A. WALLACE. APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING THE PASSAGE OP CARS 0R VBHIGLES ALONG A RAILWAY AND THE CONTROL THEREOF. APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 1912.

INVENTOR 76W! Wm W BTNESSES .THE NORRIS PETERS ca, PHOTO LITHOH WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT A. WALLACE, OF NEW YORK, N. 1 1, A$SIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH &

SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR GOVERNING THE PASSAGE OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- CARS OR VEHICLES ALONG A RAIL- WAY AND THE CONTROL THEREOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 23, 1912. Serial No. 692,613.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT A. WALLACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Appa ratus for Governing the Passage of Cars or Vehicles Along a Railway and the Control Thereof, of which the following is a specificatio-n.

My invention relates to apparatus for the control of railway switches and signals from a central point, and particularly to apparatus for the control of the two switches of a crossover by a single control lever.

One object of my invention is the provision of a single relay controlled by the control lever and by the switches in such manner as to indicate when the lever occupies an extreme position and both switches occupy the corresponding extreme position.

I will describe one form of apparatus and circuits embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus and circuits embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. 1 but showing the positions assumed by the several parts during the movement of the switches from one extreme position to the other.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

One feature of my invention is the provision, in connection with the two switches of a crossover and the control lever therefor, of two independentpairs of indication devices for the lever, one pair for each switch, the indication devices for each switch being controlled independently of those for the other switch, thereby insuring that both switches have been moved into the position corresponding to the position of the lever before the lever is released by the indication devices to complete its stroke. By the term indication device I mean a device which stops the controlling lever in mid-stroke and prevents further movement of the lever until the switch or other traffic controlling device has completed its movedrawings, Figure 1 ment in response to the movement of the lever.

Another feature of my invent-ion is the provision of a relay Whose circuit is controlled by contacts operatively connected with the switches and by contacts operated by the control lever, the contacts being so arranged that the relay circuit is closed only when the control lever occupies one extreme position or the other and the switch rails of both switches occupy positions corresponding to the position of the control lever.

In my invention the indication circuits are, employed to form the circuits for this relay.

An important feature of my invention is the connection of the indication circuits with the source of current in such manner that only one such relay is necessary for the two switches of the crossover and their controlling lever.

Referring now to the drawings, A and B are two switches of a crossover; these switches are both controlled by a control lever C, which lever is usually one of a plurality of similar levers comprised in an interlocking machine; The switches may be moved by any suitable means; as here shown each switch is moved by a pair of solenoids and a plunger, switch A being moved by solenoids l0 and 11 and plunger 14:, and switch B by solenoids 12 and 18 and plunger 15. shown in long and short dash lines; they are controlled by contacts 16 and 17 on the lever C. One of these circuits will be traced in detail in connection with the explanation of the operation of the system.

For switch A, I provide two contacts 25 and 26 and for switch B, I provide two other contacts 25 and 26 Operatively connected with switch A is a contact finger 27 and operatively connected with switch B is a contact finger 27 Each contact finger closes one contact or the other of the corresponding switch according to whether the switch is in one extreme position or the other of its movement.

Extending from the lever C to the switches A and B are two wires 23 and 2A to which current is supplied by a source 18 which as here shown is a battery.

The control lever C is provided with four Patented July '7, 1%14.

The circuits for these solenoids are" a l whichoperates a latch 47 indication devices N N R ,R which devices, as is well understood in the art, are arranged to stop the lever in midstroke and to permit the lever C to complete its stroke in one direction or the other only when the indication devices for the particular direction are actuated by a completion of the movement of both switches. indication devices, comprises a segment 43 secured to the shaft of the lever and provided with dogs strand Q6, and a magnet coacting with the dogs.

In myinvention, the magnet for each, indication device is provided with a separate circuit energized from wires 23 and 24, and each circuit includes one of the contacts 25 26 253 or 26 The two indication devices N and N are for the normal indication, that is, for therelease of the lever when the switches have both moved to their normal position, and their circuits include respectively the two contacts 25 and 25 which are closed only when the two switches occupy their normal positions. Similarly the two indication devices R and R are for the reverse indication and their circuits include respectively the twocontacts 26 and 26 whlch are closed only when the two switches occupy their reverse posltions.

As is well understood, the lever C may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 until the dogs of indication devices R and R engage the corresponding latches 47, but further movement is prevented until the latches are raised by the corresponding magnet 44.- being energized. It will be clear therefore that in my invention the full movement of the lever toward reverse position will be prevented until both switches have made a complete movement to the reverse position thereby closing both circuit controllers 26 and 26 which control the reverse indication devices. Similar remarks apply to a full movement toward normal position. The circuits for the indication devices are controlled also by contacts 27, 28, 29 and 30 operated by the lever C. These contacts are so arranged that they are not actuated during the movement of the lever to the mid-stroke point where it is stopped by the indication devices; but that during the completion of the stroke of the lever after the lever is released by the indication devices, these contacts are all reversed in position. As here shown, this operation of these contacts is accomplished by mounting the contact fingers loosely on the lever shaft and actuating them by pins or studs fixed in disks 51 which are secured to the shaft.

This operation of the contacts is indicated 'in'the drawings by the positions of these contacts in Figs. 2 and 3.

In my invention the circuits for the normal and reverse indication magnets of one Each of these switch A extend from positive-wire 24 at the switch to negative wire 23 at the lever, and include indication wires 41 and 32 respectively; while the circuits for the normal and reverse indication magnets. of the other switch B extend from the negative wire 23 at the switch to positive wire 24 at the lever, and include indication wires 42 and 36 respectively. The reason for this arrangement of the circuits will appear hereinafter.

M designates a relay which is energized only when the lever C is in an extreme position of its stroke and when both switches are in the corresponding extreme position. This relay may be employed to control any desired circuit; for example, it may control the circuits of a signal S governing traffic over the switches A and B, which signal circuit is also controlled by contacts operated in any desired manner. Relay M is connected by wires 52-and 53 with two contacts 26 and 27 operated by control lever C, by means of which contacts the relay, is

connected with the two normal indication wires ell and 4C2 when the lever is in the extreme normal position, and with the two reverse indication wires 32 and 36 when the lever is in the extreme reverse position. When the lever is in an intermediate position, as when it is stopped in mid-stroke by the indication devices, this relay is entirely disconnected from the indication wires. It will be seen, therefore, that when the lever C is in extreme normal or extreme reverse position and both switches A and B are in positions corresponding'to the position of the lever, relay M is energized, but that under all other conditions this relay is deenergized. I

The operation of the system is as follows: Referring to Fig. 1, the switches are here shown in their normal positions (that is, set for main line traflic) and the lever C is in its corresponding position, that is, at the left hand limit of its stroke. Relay M is therefore energized, so that the circuit for signal S is closed at contacts 54. When it is desiredto move the switches to their reverse positions, the lever C is turned in the direction of the arrow until it is stopped by the dogs 45 of indication devices R and R This portion of the movement opens contact 17 and closes contact 16, and it also opens contacts 25 and 26; but it does not affect contacts 27, 28, 29 and 30. The opening of contacts 25 and 26 causes relay M to be deenergized, thereby opening at that relay the circuit for signal S so that this circuit can not now beclosed to clear the-signal. The closing of contact 16 closes a circuit through solenoids 11 and 12 as followsfrom battery 18 through wire 19, contact 16, wire solenoid 11, wire 21, solenoid 12, wire 22 negative wire 23. The switches are thereby moved to their reverse positions, and the parts then occupy the positions indicated in Fig. 2. Referring now to this view, it will be seen that the contact fingers 27 and 27 have been reversed in position by the switches, so that the circuits of the indication devices R and R are now closed, energlzing magnets 44 of these devices. The circuit of device R is from positive wire 24: through wire 31, contact finger 27 contact 26 wire 32, contact 28, wire 33, .maget 4:4: of indication device It, wire 34 to negative wire 23. The circuit of indication device B is similar to that just traced, being from negative wire 23 at the switch to positive wire 24: at the lever. Both of the reverse indication devices being energized, the lever is released and its stroke may be completed; when this is done the parts occupy the positions indicated in Fig. 3. Referring tothis view it will be seen that during the completion of the stroke,.contacts 27 28, 29, a11d-3O have all been reversed, disconnecting the reverse indication devices R and R from their indication wires and connecting the normal indication devices N and N with their indication wires. Also, contacts 25 and 26 are closed, thereby energizing relay M through the following circuitfr0m positive wire 24 through wire 31, contact finger 27*, contact 26, wires 32 and 39, contact 26, wire 53, re lay M, wire 52, contact 25, wires 40 and 36, contact- 26 wire 35 to negative wire 23. In

other words, relay M is now connected with reverse indication wires 32 and 36 which are connected respectively with positive and negative wires 24: and 23 at the switches. These indication wires are not now connected with wires 24 and 23 at the lever because contacts 28 and 30 are open.

If by accident an indication circuit should become closed independently of the contact finger 27 or 27 as for example in case a cross between the two parts of one of the switch contacts, the indication device included in that circuit might become energized and might permit a full movement of the lever C before both of the switches had made complete movement. To avoid this possibility each segment 4L3 is provided with the additional dog 46 which, if the magnet is energized prior to an attempted movement of the lever C, engages the latch e7 and prevents sufficient movement of the lever to close the switch controlling contact 16 or 17, or if the movement of the lever should be sufiicient to close these contacts, the dog 46 prevents the completion of the movement of the lever even if the indication circuit should be closed by a complete movement of the switches.

It will be observed that by means of the four indication devices I provide a separate and independent indication for every movement of each switch. Hence in case of a cross or other abnormal condition in any one indication circuit, it will be at once detected either by the engagement of dog 46 with the latch 47 or by the inability to complete the movement of the lever G.

The operation of the system for a movement in the opposite direction, that is, to cause movement of the switches to normal position, is similar to that just explained, hence no detailed explanation is necessary.

It will be noted that since the two indication wires 32 and 41 for switch A are both connected with positive wire 2-l at the switch and with negative wire 23 at the lever, and the two indication wires 36 and 42 for switch B are both connected with negative wire 23 at the switch and with positive wire 24 at the lever, I am enabled to employ the indication wires for the circuits of relay M,

and am also enabled to employ only one such relay to indicate when the two switches of the crossover are in the extreme positions corresponding to the position of the control lever.

' Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus and circuits embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination, two switches of a crossover, means for moving the switches, a control lever for the control of said means and having two control positions corresponding to the two extreme positions of the switches, a pair of contacts for each switch, one contact or the other of each pair being closed according to whether the switch is in one or the other of its extreme positions, a source of current, line wires connected with said source and extending from the switches to the control lever, four indication wires extending from the switches to the lever and each including a switch contact, the two wires for one switch being alternately connected with a line wire of one polarity adjacent the switch and with a line wire of the opposite polarity adjacent the lever, and the two wires for the other switch being alternately connected with the line wire of the last mentioned polarity adj acent the switch and with the line wire of the other polarity adjacent the control lever, indication devices connected with said indication wires for governing the control lever, a relay, a circuit controlledthereby, two circuits for the relay winding one comprising the two indication wires which are closed when the switches are in one position and the other comprising the two indication wires closed when the switches are in the other position, and contacts operated by the lever for connecting the relay with one pair of indicationwires or the other according tothe position of the lever the twosaid pairsibeing respectively the pairs which include the closed contacts when the switches occupyvthe to the switch; a contact device operatively connected with one switch for connectling one or the other of the wires for the switch with one pole of the said sourceac cording as the switch occupies its normal or reverse position, a contact device operatively connected with the other switchfor connect ing one or the other of the wires for the switch with the other pole of the source ac-f cording asthe switch occupies its normal or reverse position; a relay, a circuit controlledv thereby; and contacts connected with the control lever and operating when the lever;

--is innormal position to connect the relay with the two said wires which are connected; with the source when the switches are both in normal position, said contacts operating when the lever is in the reverse position to connect the relay with the other two of said wires.

3. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, means for moving said switches, a lever for controlling said means, a source of current, two pairs of wires one pair for each switch; means con trolled by theswitches for connecting one wire of one pair and one wire of the other? pair with the two terminals of the source: respectively-when both switches are in one extreme position, and for connecting the re-: maining two wires'with the respective ter-ji minals of the source when both switches are? in the ,other exltreme position; a re1ay, a cirlcuit controlled thereby; and contacts controlled by said lever and operating when the lever is in either extreme position to connect the relay with the two wires which are con- ,nected with the sourcewhen both switches are in the extreinepositions corresponding to the position'of the lever.

4., In combination, a railway crossover compris ng two swltches, means for moving said switches, a lever for controllingsaid' means, asource of current, line wires 23 and 24 connected with said source and-extending from the switches to the lever, two pairs of indicationiwires one pairifor eachswitch;

nectingvone. or the other of the. indication wires for that switch withone line wire 24: adjacent the switch according as the switch occupies one positionor the other, contacts controlled by the lever foralternately connecting said latter indication wires with the other line wire23 adjacent the lever; contacts controlled by the other switch for connecting one or the other of the corresponding indication wires with the linewire 23 adjacentthe switch according as the switch occupies one position or the other, contacts controlled by the lever for alternately con necting said two last-mentioned indication wires with line wire 24 adjacent the lever; ,indication devicesconnected with said indication wires; a relay, a circuit controlled thereby; and contacts controlled by the lever and operating; when .theleveris in either extreme position to connect the relay with the two indication wires which, are connected with the line wires at the switches when the switches are in the positions corresponding 1 to the position ofthe lever.

- In testimony whereof I'afiix my signature in presence of two-witnesses.

HERBERT A. WALLACE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

contacts :controlled by one switchffor con 

